Around here, we do lots of preaching about riding more and driving less, but we know that sometimes you need a car to get to the trailhead, the start line of a race or a weekend getaway. But before you hang your $7,000 bike on a $50 rack, read on to find out which method of carrying best suits you, your bike, your vehicle—and your peace of mind.

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You Want A wiggle-free mount that won't let your bike scratch or ding your car, or clip a signpost or another vehicle's bumper; access to your trunk or hatch; to carry as many as five bikes.Your Rack Type Is: ROOF Your bike securely attaches to a mount—some of these require you to take off the front wheel while others clamp to your bike's frame, no wheel removal required. The bike mount bolts to standard roof-rack crossbars, or load bars, which attach to your car. Or, your car may already have integrated crossbars on it. Thule and Yakima dominate the crossbar market, while universal bike mounts are available from a variety of manufacturers.But Consider This Lifting bikes overhead can be a struggle, especially on taller vehicles such as SU Vs and minivans; not every style of bike fits into roof-rack mounts; you risk forgetting your bikes are up there until it's too late—you could pull into your garage and end up with a mangled mess.

You Want To do minimal lifting; no bike contact with your vehicle's paint; easy and fast installation and removal; to be able to carry most bike types; to carry as many as four bikes.Your Rack Type Is: HITCH This rack slides into a vehicle's hitch. Hitch mounts come in two types: Less-expensive models hang bikes from two arms, like a trunk rack, and pricier versions use rattle-free tray mounts similar to roof-rack models. Some hitch mounts allow the rack to swing and pivot clear of the tailgate, even when loaded with bikes, for easy access to your vehicle's trunk or cargo area.But Consider This You need a receiver-type trailer hitch for this to be an option; it puts your bikes in a vulnerable spot for high curbs, tight parking spaces and menacing tailgaters; on some models, multiple bikes can rattle against each other; tailgate access can be restricted.

You Want Minimal lifting to affix your bike; to accommodate almost any type of bike; a universal fit so you can easily use the rack on different vehicles; the least-expensive option.Your Rack Type Is: TRUNK Clips and straps fasten around the edge of the vehicle's trunk, hatch or tailgate to provide a highly versatile fit. After the initial setup, which requires some fiddling with strap length, most trunk racks install in mere minutes. Two arms hold your bike under the top tube; you secure your bike with straps or bungees. Pricier models have more-secure retention systems (some entry-level models cost as little as $50).But Consider This Careful loading and padding are required to avoid chipped paint on your vehicle and bike; trunk or hatch access is impaired; carry capacity is limited to three bikes, which are vulnerable to high curbs, tight parking spaces and (again) those darn menacing tailgaters.